ArtBEAT
Arts Collective
a student-founded collective promoting and celebrating the arts
Alumnae at Tisch
From King Street to New York City, Sacred Heart Greenwich Theatre alumnae thrive at NYU Tisch
Dance Program
Sacred Heart Greenwich’s growing Dance Program inspires confidence & connection across all divisions
Sacred Heart Greenwich Arts
Welcome to ArtBEAT
We are thrilled to launch the first issue of our digital quarterly performing and visual arts magazine ArtBEAT! This edition highlights the incredible energy and dedication that our students bring to the arts each day. In these pages, we introduce the leaders behind the brand new Arts Collective, a student-led initiative to build community through the arts and promote school arts events. You will get a peek into our newly expanded dance program, and meet some of our recent theatre alumnae who are all excelling at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Please enjoy this glimpse into our performing and visual arts classrooms, and all of the exciting projects that our students bring to life.
ArtBEAT is a testament to the hard work and creative spirit of our artists and contributors. It is our hope that this new publication will showcase the exceptional work created at Sacred Heart Greenwich and create a platform that will help build a stronger, more connected arts community.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Danielle Gennaro ’05 for spearheading this initiative, and to the Sacred Heart Greenwich Communications Team, our performing and visual arts faculty, and, most of all, our inspiring students whose passion brings this publication to life.
Mrs. Eva Carrasquero P’6, H’23, Performing Arts Department Chair
Mrs. Marnie McLaughlin, Visual Arts Department Chair
Ramsey Boursiquot ’25
Starr
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Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Program Spotlight: Ladies of the Dance
Introducing the Arts Collective
Faculty Spotlight: Summer at Sagamore
Checking in with: Lower School Art Class
Alumnae Spotlight: Theatre Students Thrive at Tisch
Upcoming Events
Performing Arts
At Sacred Heart Greenwich, theatre, music, and dance education challenge students across all divisions to build their confidence, learn new skills, and collaborate with their peers, while developing into thoughtful, imaginative, and resilient future leaders. See how our students thrived onstage in concerts, and in productions like Titanic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Something Rotten Jr., Annie Kids, and The Wackadoo Zoo, while also gaining new perspective through off-campus excursions.
Visual Arts
From Barat Center through Upper School, and grounded in both traditional and contemporary art practices, our visual arts program challenges students to develop technical and analytical skills while nurturing individual creativity and expression. Take a look at the worlds our student artists are building using clay, charcoal, photography, and various other media, while in an environment that encourages them to imagine, experiment, and take risks.
Angelina S. ’28
Vivianna L. ’27
Maggie O. ’26
Inès F. ’31
Dance Ladies of the
The Sacred Heart Greenwich Dance Program has seen rapid growth in the last three years! For Middle School students, dance is offered as part of the mini-course series, which allows every student to experience dance, regardless of prior experience. In the Upper School, it began as a club in 2023 and secured a formal spot in the course catalog by 2024. It has now expanded into two popular classes for the 2025-2026 school year, serving 14 Upper School students!
Though she has worked with Sacred Heart Greenwich for years—building a Lower School dance program that introduces the fundamentals of creative movement—Mrs.
Cynthia Alonzo-Fay is thrilled to now see dance as a more permanent fixture in the Middle and Upper School curricula, saying, “Watching students overcome challenges and achieve their goals brings me such joy.”
Dancing since the age of three, Mrs. Alonzo-Fay has long been answering her calling to dance education. “My mission is simple: for every student to leave class not just as a better dancer, but as a better human,” she explained. “The skills developed in class, like teamwork, meeting deadlines, and creative problem-solving, will serve them long after they leave the studio, regardless of whether they pursue dance professionally.”
The Upper School dance elective consists both of lifelong dancers and students excited about trying something new for the first time. Chloe C. ’28 has been dancing since age two, beginning with recreational dance until she started dancing competitively at age ten. “What I love is that dance allows me to express emotions and stories through movement, while teaching me discipline, hard work, creativity, and strength,” she said. “I am so glad I am a part of the Sacred Heart Greenwich Dance Program, because it allows me to do what I love in school with people who practice different styles or go to different studios, while all being connected by this one passion.”
Sophia B. ’28 has been dancing on and off since the age of three and is now in her second year of taking the dance elective in the Upper School. “I love dance because it helps me express myself and share this passion
with my peers,” she said. “This program has given me a way to connect with others and grow more confident on stage doing something I love.”
In both Middle and Upper School, the dance program covers a wide range of styles, including ballet, jazz, hiphop, musical theatre, contemporary, and liturgical dance. Within each unit, students concentrate on developing proper technique and learning specific choreography. A key component of the program is exposure, ensuring the girls have the opportunity to try a style they may have never explored, something Zahra N. ’31 has experienced in her Middle School dance mini-course. “It is so much fun learning different styles of dance,” she explained, “and I love it because it gives students an opportunity to experience and try new things. It also gives students a new perspective on dance, and the wise freedom of choosing what to do with their new knowledge.”
Mrs. Alonzo-Fay went on to speak more about the program: “My favorite aspect of working with these students in the program is the enthusiasm. These girls match my own passion for growing the program, showing up to class ready to learn and collaborate. It’s inspiring that they frequently offer creative suggestions for how we can further elevate the dance program’s visibility within the school. Looking ahead, I plan to
enrich the curriculum by providing more performances, increasing our involvement in community outreach, and securing experiential learning opportunities like field trips and masterclasses with guest artists. The program’s potential for expansion is incredibly exciting, and our continued growth means we can offer more to our students. Sharing this art form with the next generation is a privilege I deeply cherish.”
Introducing the Arts Collective
Say hello to the Sacred Heart Greenwich Arts Collective! This committee of Upper School student artists, including elected representatives for dance, theatre, visual arts, music, and film, will work together to implement new ways to get students involved in the arts, while recognizing and celebrating the amazing work our student artists are already doing. Through leadership, service, dedication to their community, and commitment to the intrinsic value of arts education, this new student-initiated group will aim to give artists a space to work and grow together while embodying all five Goals set forth by our Goals and Criteria.
Juniors Gabrielle H. and Vivianna L. brought the idea forward last year. “We were inspired to start the Arts Collective because we wanted to bring more attention and opportunities to the arts than they had before,” Vivianna said. “We are excited for new events and upcoming showcases, and for the whole Sacred Heart Greenwich community to see what our student artists have to offer!”
Collective: Gabrielle H. ’27 and Vivianna L. ’27 (Co-Presidents), Caroline G. ’26 (Promotional Chair), Lizzy H. ’27 (Treasurer); Representatives: Grace M. ’28 (Dance), Angelina C. ’28 (Theatre), Olivia F. ’26 (Visual Arts), Carolina F. ’27 (Music), Laurie S. ’26 (Film).
Mrs. Marnie McLaughlin, Upper School Art Teacher and Visual Arts Department Chair, is looking forward to seeing what this creative and enthusiastic group does this year: “The group’s leaders recognized an underrepresentation of the arts within our community and set out to change that. I’m so excited by the energy and enthusiasm they are bringing to school this year! I’m especially interested in their initiatives for service projects, including fundraising for community arts organizations and creating mentorship opportunities between upperclassmen and younger students.”
Faculty Spotlight: Summer at Sagamore
This past summer, continuing a tradition she has enjoyed for many years, Upper School Art Teacher Mrs. Marnie McLaughlin spent a week at the New York State Art Teachers Association Summer Institute at Great Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks! Immersed in the beauty of the wilderness, she found renewal while connecting with fellow art educators from across New York State. Each year, teachers come together for a week of workshops, creative exploration, and professional dialogue, sharing best practices and fresh ideas for inspiring young artists. Past participants from our own community include former teacher, Mrs. Paula Westcott, and current Lower School teacher, Ms. Ricki Bogin.
“Every summer, fifty or so art teachers from all over the state gather to exchange workshops and nurture their creative practice,” she explained. “I’ve both taken and led workshops at this retreat for the past five years, and it never gets old, as every year brings fresh inspiration and fellowship.”
Arts
Checking in With Lower School Art Class
In Lower School, some visual arts projects expand beyond the newly renovated art studio, working with our Mustard Seeds program. These collaborations integrate outdoor classroom experiences into the curriculum.
Recently, our fourth-grade artists spent some time down at the garden classroom with our very own Sacred Heart Greenwich chickens!
Using graphite, homemade smudgers, and kneaded erasers, they applied the drawing techniques and observational skills they have been working on in art class.
Alumnae Spotlight: Theatre
F or students across all divisions at Sacred Heart Greenwich, the theatre program encourages thoughtful artistic expression and community focus. Whether performing on stage or engaging in hands-on work in the classroom, our theatre students are learning to think creatively, work collaboratively, and express themselves confidently.
Several of our recent alumnae chose to build upon that strong foundation from Sacred Heart Greenwich, pursuing conservatory training in B.F.A. programs in Theatre. For three successive years, our student performers have gone on to advance their study at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, one of the top drama schools in the country that is recognized as a global leader in performing arts education. Catching up with Zöe Young ’22, Molly Kriskey ’23, and Ila David ’24, we got insight into the excitement and rigor of their B.F.A. programs, while learning how theatre at Sacred Heart Greenwich prepared them for this next challenge.
In the Atlantic Acting School, Zöe Young recently performed in her studio’s production of Antigone, an adaptation of Sophocles’ original play, written by her director. “This experience was incredibly enriching—tackling the complexity of the text, engaging in deep character work, and exploring the dense historical context of the world of this play. What struck me most was how a story from
Ancient Greece remains so relevant today, exploring themes of justice, corruption, and the complexities of humanity.”
Now a senior, Zöe is spending the semester in London studying Shakespeare at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), which she describes as “an incredible opportunity to train at a renowned institution for classical acting.” Molly Kriskey is thrilled to also have been accepted to RADA, and she is so excited to follow in Zöe’s footsteps next fall.
Over at the Stella Adler Studio, Molly is currently in production as Feste in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, while also producing a play that will debut at an off-Broadway theatre in New York.
One of her favorite projects was working on a play last semester called Year of the Goat, written and directed by her collaborator and producing partner. “I
played a character I had originated and worked on for a couple of years, and it meant a lot to me,” Molly explained. “I love having the chance to tell important stories with people I admire and respect.”
At the New Studio on Broadway, Ila David is coming off a first year that was focused on theatrical production. “NYU Drama students don’t perform in their first year, and instead have crew assignments,” Ila explained, speaking of her production roles on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. “I was
Students Thrive at Tisch
assigned multiple roles for this production such as Wardrobe and Spot Operator Cover, and I recently had to cover the Light Board position.”
Prior to this, she had a crew assignment on the New Studio’s production of Carrie as a Sound A-2. “I’ve learned so much,” she said of both experiences, “and I’ve had an absolute blast.”
Ila noted how her advanced theatre classes and concentrated classwork in theatrical design at Sacred Heart Greenwich set her up for success in these roles: “They helped me explore different aspects of theatre I was interested in and really made me appreciate all different areas of production.” Building on those skills, she spent the summer writing and producing a musical about the lives of NYU students, which was performed during orientation week for the entire incoming class at Radio City Music Hall.
These three innovative and driven young women, each in a different one of Tisch Drama’s eleven professional training studios, all said the same thing about Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Theatre Program: that it was where they found their voices, discovered their passions, and realized their ability to impact the world in an intentional, creative, collaborative way. “At Sacred Heart Greenwich, I learned that working in theatre requires trust, curiosity, and a willingness to take bold creative risks,” Zöe explained. “I also gained a strong foundation in discipline, preparation, and teamwork— qualities that continue to serve me in my training at NYU.”
Ila explained how she will always hold a special place for the theatre program at Sacred Heart Greenwich.
“Those productions really helped me grow into feeling more comfortable and confident on stage.”
Molly said that something she took with her from her time in the Sacred Heart Greenwich Theatre Program was that “working with people you love and learning from them is a gift, and it creates some incredible art. I had the privilege to be part of that at Sacred Heart, and it set me up perfectly for art school and for life.”
Ms. Michaela Gorman ’05, Upper School Theatre Teacher and Director, is constantly impressed by how her former students are incorporating the school’s philosophy of theatre education into the next stage of their careers as performers: “Zöe, Molly, and Ila embody the core tenets of the Sacred Heart Greenwich Theatre Program in such a powerful way. They are all thoughtful, community-focused theatre artists, who bring leadership, dedication, and vision to their work. It is such an honor to have been part of their journeys and to have the opportunity to celebrate all of their current and future successes in the performing arts!”
Approaching the end of her time at NYU and the start of the exciting chapter that lies before her, Zöe reflected on her journey beyond King Street: “Coming from Sacred Heart, I’m incredibly proud to represent my school in this field and to show what is possible in the arts. Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Theatre Program played a significant role in shaping me, and as I continue my journey studying theatre at NYU, I carry those lessons with me. It’s an honor to hopefully set an example for future students who dream of following their artistic passion.”
Upcoming Events
5:00 P.M. – Middle & Upper School Arts Open House 7:00 P.M. – Upper School Fall Play: A Christmas Carol 1:30 P.M. – Lower School Christmas Celebration 1:30 P.M. – Middle School Musical
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P.M. – Middle & Upper School Christmas Concert
P.M. – Middle School Musical 1:30 P.M. – Lower School Musical 3:00 P.M. – 8th Annual All-School Art Show 6:30 P.M. – Middle & Upper School Spring Concert 7:00 P.M. – Upper School Musical 3:00 P.M. – Upper School Musical 2:15 P.M. – K-1 Musical
Photography: Courtesy of Sacred Heart Greenwich Curation: Danielle Gennaro ’05 Design: Kara Hodge ’20
Stay connected with Sacred Heart Greenwich Arts
Scan here to follow @shgreenwicharts on Instagram! Madrigals and Upper School Chorus performed at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny on their trip to Ireland in 2024.
